L’Étape du Tour 2026 : It Took Me 17 Years to Learn these Roads

The L’Étape du Tour 2026 is being described as the toughest route in recent memory — and after riding and working on these roads for 17 years, it’s easy to see why.

In this video, I break down the L’Étape du Tour 2026 route map, section by section, explaining how it looks on paper — and how it really feels on the road. Starting in Bourg d’Oisans and finishing in Alpe d’Huez via the Col de Sarenne, this 170 km high-mountain sportive packs over 5,400 metres of climbing into one relentless day.

0:00 Intro
1:25 Col de la Croix de Fer climb and descent profile and pacing traps
2:53 The Maurienne Valley harder than it looks
3:32 Télégraphe gradient and energy management
4:03 Descent to Valloire and the Col du Galibier Climb altitude effects and Strategy
4:53 Dangerous descents Galibier and Lautaret and the Valley, tunnels, and fatigue points
5:44 Why Col de Sarenne changes everything at the end

If you leave a comment you can then a copy of the digital map by visiting

L’Étape du Tour 2026: Complete Route, Climbs, and Key Tips for Cyclists

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